so so

got this book because on daily deal kept going back to it when i had nothing else to read took about 10 sittings to get through characters annoying wudnt recommend

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Be careful when reading the reviews

Which character – as performed by Katherine Kellgren – was your favourite?

None of the characters was particularly likeable in themselves. Katherine Kellgren performed them all admirably.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No, you need to read the book as a whole. I started to read this with a heavy heart because I'd read a number of recent negative reader reviews. Some said that nothing much happens and they were waiting - and waiting - for the story to take off.I'm glad I persevered. Yes, I can see how the world-weary dialogue of these wealthy American socialites can be off-putting. But if you can persevere there is rather a lot going on. The novel is character-driven. We read the events from the perspectives of five characters, and the plot develops slowly along the way. It's the characters' reactions that are more interesting rather than the action itself.

Any additional comments?

As for the accusation of nothing much happening in the book, it's not really fair. We have adulterous affairs, mental illness, murder, attempted murder, unrequited love, betrayal, and quite a lot of suspense.

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A Struggle to finish!

Not up my street, felt like giving up a few times but kept on expecting it to get better, it didn't!

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8 people found this helpful

beautifully written

This book transports you with rich descriptions, feeling like you're truly there. Also, has interesting characters...

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A great summer listen

I had high hopes for this book after hearing an interview with Liza Klaussman on Woman's Hour and reading excellent reviews in the broadsheets. I guess I was a little disappointed but would still highly recommend it. There are many comparisons you can put forward for this; Gatsby is the most obvious and although this book is set primarily in the 1940s and 1950s it definitely conjures up that same moneyed lifestyle, the languid summer atmosphere. The atmosphere and the narration are mesmerising and definitely the best part of this audiobook. There is a dark tension running through it that is compelling and certainly kept me listening. However, I cared very little for any of the characters and felt that the ending did not quite live up to the initial promise of the book. Definitely worth a listen though and a book to think about long after you've finished listening.

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9 people found this helpful

Boys’ noise, Hughes shoes, Ed said....

An irritating list of what she wore, and what she wore and what was in the house and Ed said, said Ed, Ed said dialogue . I read on, on the promise that the plot developed quickly after drifting around the sub Gatsby sub Yates shallows - apart from a War-time London interlude that entertained, it didn’t.

The Wallace Stevens references seem spurious given the lack of overall depth to the waters between Wood’s Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Chappaquiddick according to the Klaussmann scale. Cape Cod is a wonderful location for a holiday. Unfortunately, the aspirational sea and sand still infused with the Kennedy-myth too often choke off real purpose in the narrative and motivation in the characters. What is left is one dimensional players in a two dimensional play, played against a backdrop of what the author wants this to be. Yellow bathing suits cut high on the thigh, Hollywood players, teenage tennis striking image after image, perspiring against first love combatants. Strong visuals, but the meanings fall between green and gold before end the nightmare that takes place on this Elm Street is put back on the coffee table.

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1 person found this helpful

Leave well alone!

Wish I had paid more attention to reviews of this book on other sites (try Amazon, several bad reviews). This wasn't a very good book and I wish I hadn't wasted a credit on this. It came through on the recommended reads but I would not recommend. Nothing really happens in the story, the characters are poorly developed and the narrator is a little grating. leave well alone!

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9 people found this helpful

A real struggle to finish

I am still reading this (half way through part 2) and am still waiting for it to get going and get better but it is'nt happening. I will struggle to finish it, it's not engaging and doesnt seem to have any storyline....not like me to pick a dud.

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13 people found this helpful

Very disappointing

I bought this as it was recommended by Audible How stupid was I??? Will be very careful of purchasing anything else recommended by Audible again!!
Very disjointed no real story no empathy with characters I finished it just!! Please do not waste your book credit or money on this

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16 people found this helpful

Disappointed

Bought this on a whim - as the synopsis boded well for a good summer read.
Really disappointed - struggled to finish it - just did not engage with the characters or the plot line. Did not work for me at all but it's good to try new books, I guess.

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16 people found this helpful